Sleeve-fastener



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.-

WILLIAM A. BATES, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

SLEEVE-FASTENER.

Specification of Letters Patent No. 17,413, dated June '2, 1857.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM A. BATES, of Boston, in the county of Suffolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented a new or Improved Sleeve-Fastener or Bracelet- Clasp; and I do hereby declare that the same is fully described and represented in the following specification and the accompanying drawings, of which Figure 1, is a perspective view of the said sleeve fastener, as it appears when its tongue is raised off its catch. Fig. 2, is a side view of the same under similar circumstances. Fig. 3, an underside view showing the tongue as embracing the catch. Fig. 4, is a top view of the fastener. Fig. 5, an end view of the catch or catch hook.

In such drawings, A, is the body of the fastener made of a thin piece of gold plate or other suitable metal bent into the form as shown in Fig. 2 and so made that it may readily be sprung so as to move the two ends toward one another. A tongue (provided with an opening or slot, 6,) is hinged to one en l of the body as shown at a, and so that sai tongue may be capable of being turned either toward or away from a catch or button G, fixed upon the other end of the body or near the same as shown in the drawings. This catch or catch hook, is a small triangular piece of metal fixed on the top of a standard, 0, projecting from the body A, as shown in the drawings.

By compressing the body, the catch may be moved backward so as to be sprung into the opening 6, of the tongue. Then it is once placed therein, and the force of compression is removed from the body the latter will expand so as to force the catch up into the vertex of the angle of the opening 6, and thereby secure the tongue firmly down to that end of the body on which the catch is fastened. In using the sleeve fastener, the tongue is to be passed through the sleeve or otherparts of the dress to be connected together. After this has been done, a slight contraction of the body A, will be sufficinet to enable the catch to be passed into the opening of the tongue.

I am aware that on May 3rd, 1854:, a patent was granted, to John Mansure for a bracelet clasp, which contained two spring bars forming a bifurcated clasp or fastening, these bars operating in connection with a slot provided with two ears. of making a bracelet clasp or sleeve fastener is very objectionable from the fact, that it is constantly liable to become unfastened in consequence of the peculiar action of the dress upon it. When placed therein such serving to contract the spring arms or force them toward one another so as to allow them to slip from underneath the ears of the slot. This accident is particularly liable to take place, when there is much thickness of cloth between the fastening and the body. My improved article is not attended with any such defect and holds the firmer, the thicker the cloth may be between its tongue and body.

I therefore do not claim forming a sleeve fastener by means of hinged spring arms, a slot and ears as patented by Farr and Thompson, assignees of Jno. Mansure, my invention, differing materially therefrom and having important advantages over the same. Nor do I claim in button or fastenings for clothes, having one end of the eye or tongue hinged or rigidly fastened to the button, and making the tongue or eye elastic and forming a cavity or counter sink in the body to facilitate the entrance of the tongue or eye into its hole in the body such being the subject of a patent granted to Richard Oliver on October 10th 1854. My invention differs from this, the body in my clasp being made so as to spring longitudinally.

That I claim is- My improved bracelet clasp made with a slotted tongue and catch hook, and with its body to spring lengthwise as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my signature.

WILLIAM A. BATES.

Witnesses R. H. EDDY, F. P. HALE, Jr.

This mode 

